God is faithful!!

I was able to go up to the hospital last night while Jerrod had his surgery. Friends and family had pretty much taken over the waiting room. I got there a little after 8:00 and he had been in surgery since about 3:30. We did not hear much until about 10:30, and then they finally finished about midnight. They believe they got the whole tumor out, and now the prayer request is that it be benign, which they will not know about until early next week.

I don't know Jerrod very well, but I adore Jerry and Carla-even more now. Their family is such an incredibly living testimony of what God is doing and who He is. I was talking with Carla, and we were discussing how far reaching this was-she said at one point this week, Jerrod had asked her, "Mom, why is this happening to me?", and the only answer she could give was that God is working through this in ways they will probably never know. He has been so brave and upbeat-encouraging his parents and everyone around him. We were also talking about how we had no idea how anyone got by without the body of Christ-how does anyone survive without that community?! Even in the midst of their struggle, I watched them embrace every person that came up to the hospital to be there with them-and tell each one of them sincerely how glad they were that they had come. Carla brought me over and introduced me to her sister and brought me into the fold. I felt like I had been welcomed into a sacred part of their lives. God is working in mighty and powerful ways through this boy and family-that seems to happen through tragedy. They are ministering to people that they may never meet, to those sitting in that waiting room last night, to those back in Lubbock, to the nurses and doctors at the medical center, and to me.

We had an incredible time of worship at about 11:00, which I don't think words could adequately describe. It was one of those holy moments. Then we gathered together to lay hands on the family and pray for them.

After the doctor came at midnight to tell us they were done, there was a sigh of relief and much rejoicing! We gathered again to pray and thank God. I went to hug Carla and she was telling everyone it was time to smile!! I had watched her smile throughout the night-shining like a light-only through the power of God. I watched Jerry literally carry the weight of the plight of His son, and almost fall down in relief that this part was over. He kept saying all week his worst fear was that they would come out and tell him they lost Jerrod, but praise God he came through it fine!! I went up to hug Jerry, and it was another powerful moment. He just hung on and he kept saying that now our prayers need to turn to thanksgiving-He did not want to be the one who prayed for God to work and then forget to thank Him. Then he just started sobbing-a mixture of sorrow and relief, and we were still embracing each other. It was powerful. I kept telling Him how God was working through this in more ways than they may ever know, and that they really are a testimony to God's faithfulness. He asked me if I knew how much I was loved and kept telling me how thankful He was that I came-ministering to me again-amazing. When we finally let go, his eyes were bloodshot and he looked at me-I told him that the moment I had entered that hospital I could literally feel the Spirit there-I knew I was on holy ground-which was no surprise at all with the thousands of people praying around the world. He looked at me and said, "Seriously?!" He told me that he had been praying that thousands of legions of angels would be surrounding the hospital, and that He knew the angels did not protect, but God did through them, and I know He did.

I don't know if I could have imagined by being there that I would be that impacted, but God works in incredible ways. I had been checking the website all day, and had planned on going up there at some point, but was not sure if I was going to stay the whole time-but once I arrived I knew I had to stay to see what God would do next. He was moving-He is living, and it is AMAZING!!

Please continue to pray for this sweet family-words cannot describe how precious they are. They are gifts from God brought together now, more than ever-to be tools in His kingdom, and I am so thankful that they are allowing them to shape and use them for His glory.

Continue to check their site for updates-Russ Horn is doing an incredible job on keeping it up to date. As Jerry requested fervently, say thank you for His faithfulness. Pray that they got all of the tumor, and especially that it is benign. Pray that God continues to use the Shelton's as an amazing testimony of His power, love, and grace...